Towel or like folding and stacking machine



Jan. 31, 1961 c. E. MYERS 2,969,978

TOWEL OR LIKE FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet-1 'INVENTOR. CLINTON E. MYERS ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1961 c. E. MYERS ,9

TOWEL 0R LIKE FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLINTON E. MYERS ATTQRNEl Jan. 31, 1961 c. E. MYERS TOWEL 0 LIKE FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4,

FIG. 6'

INVENTOR. CLINTON EL MYERS maw ATTomgp Jan. 31, 1961 c. MYERS 2,969,978

TOWEL OR LIKE FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 47 2 F I G I l 25 Fl.l2

INVENTOR.

CLINTON E. MYERS ATTORNEY maintain. s I 7 been obtainable only at prices which were dispropor- United States Fatent i TOWEL R LIKE FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINE Clinton E. Myers, 3500 Adaline Drive, Stow, Ohio Filed Feb. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 716,451

Claims. (Cl. 270-85) This invention relates to a machine for automatically folding and stacking flexible flatwork, such as towels or the like.

Heretofore, machines designed for automatically folding and/or stacking towels or the like have been generally complicated and expensive to manuf"cture and Moreover, the known prior art machines have tionate to the benefits received, particularly when such machines were used on small fiatwork, such as hand towels. Accordingly, towels and the like have generally been folded and stacked manually, which was also unsatisfactory because the results were not always uniform, and because uneconomical separate manual folding, stacking and counting operations were required. 7

One object of the'invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and substantially automatic machinefor uniformly folding, stacking, and counting flatwork, such as hand towels. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described for folding and stacking towels or the like with a minimum of stress and strain on the same, and with'a consequent elimination of wear 'movingor rollingparts, and yet which'is safe and emcientto"op'erate for folding and stacking towels or the 'like' at a rapid rate of speed; greatly exceeding the usual speed of separate manual folding, stacking and counting operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, having therein improved self-operating electrical control "means responsive to progressive mechanical operation of the machine.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings. I

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the towel folding and stacking machine embodying thefeatures of the invention, parts thereof being broken away.

Figure 2 is a front elevation, partly broken away'and in' section, of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure '3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the left hand end of the machine, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1, and illustrating the principal portions of the folding and stacking mechanisms thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section on a further enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3. V

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section on the same scale as Figure 4, takensubstantiallyon the line 55 of Figure 3. V V Figure 6 is a similarly enlargedxcross-sectiontaken substantially on line6' 6 of Figure}.

Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections in the machine for automaticoperation of the same. I

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a towel which has been initially folded upon itself for placement in the machine for further folding and stacking operations.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a towel which has been completely folded in the machine.

Figures 10 to 14 are a series of schematic views illustrating various steps involved in a complete cycle of operation of the machine to fold and stack a towel therein.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a towel folding and stacking machine, in which folding and stacking mechanisms are generally indicated by the numerals 12 and 13, respectively.

The folding mechanism 12 may include longitudinally offset or stepped upper and lower towel supporting plates or platforms 14 and 15, respectively, the same being generally in vertically spaced, horizontal planes, and adapted to support opposite halves or end portions of a towel, or like piece of flatwork T, above and below a horizontal path of reciprocating movement of a flat blade 16. To this end, the plates 14 and 15 are secured between opposite sides 17, 17 of a frame 18 which is suitably elevated on legs 19, 19. The reciprocating blade 16' is shown longitudinally slidably received in guide slots 20 suitably provided in the sides 17 of the frame.

As best shown in Figure 1, the blade 16 is reciprocated by a piston rod 21 of an air-operated cylinder 22 mounted on the frame 18. The cylinder is operable byelect ritri-cally controlled valve means in a manner to be described later, to move the blade 16 in a horizontal path freely between the upper folding plate 14 and an'upwar-cily offset horizontal extension 1511 of plate 15,'the leading edge 16a of the blade thereby being adapted to engage a freely exposed intermediate or central portion of the towel T (see Figures 3, 10 and 11), and by drawing the towel forwardly between plate'i i and plate extension 15a to fold the towel upon'itself and move the same to a forward end of the stroke of the blade in association with the stacking unit 13 (see Figure 10). The upper surfaces of plates 14 and 15 are relatively fiat and smooth'to provide for a requisite degree of free sliding movement of the towel T with forward movement of the blade 16, and so that the two end] portions of the towel will move into folding position in a uniform manner. This action may be enhanced by provision of a roller means 30 comprising aseries of beads, mounted at the trailing edge of the plate 14 to compensate for the retarding action on the upper half of the towel caused by the same being reversely looped around the plate 14. To maintain accurate centering engagement of the blade with the towel T, the leading edge of the blade may be provided with one or more pointed projections 16b, adapted to engage the intermediate portion of the towel during forward travel of theblade. In said forward position of the blade, the folded towel embracing the-same will have opposite marginal edges thereof engaged between laterally oppositely disposed, vertically spaced, upper and lower guide strips 23, and 24, respectively, on each side17 of frame 1%, Opposed edges 25 and 26 of the opposite guide strips 23, 23 and 24, 24, respectively, define a passage therebetween through which a verticallyreciprocable plungeror platform 27 is operable for purposes to be described later. "The lower guide strips 24 may be partial extensions of the lower folding plate 15a.

The guide strips 23 and '24, therefore, serve to guide and subsequently to support the completely folded towel in horizontal position in the pathof vertical movement of said platform 27 for atowel stacking operation, Support .of the towel as described may he facilitated byprovision of a relatively fixed bar 28 mounted between opposite sides 17 of theframe 18 and a spring-pressed bar 29,

also supported between said sides. Thus, at the end of the stroke of blade 16 the leading edge 16a of the same yieldingly engages between the bars 28 and 29, so that when the blade is thereafter withdrawn the leading edge bf the folded towel T is yieldingly gripped to prevent pairs of guides 23 and 24, and through a rectangular opening 35 in a horizontal stack-supporting plate 36 on frame 18. Opening 35 is substantially smaller than the size of a folded towel T (see Figure 9) whereby the platform with a folded towel T thereon, is movable upwardly through opening 35, to a position above the plate 36 indicated in chain-dotted lines in Figure 3. When the platform reaches this upper limit of movement, a cam member 37 on a rod 38 carried by the platform, operates a micro-switch 8-4 to reverse the operation of cylinder 33 and lower the platform 27 to the full line position of Figure 3. Thus, the platform 27 picks up a folded towel, releasably supported as previously described, the blade 16 in the meantime having been withdrawn, and urges the towel through the opening 35, the edges of the towel being flexed downwardly in passing the edges of the opening. Upon downward retraction of the platform 27 the folded towel will engage the upper marginal portions of the plate surrounding the opening 35 to be retained and supported thereon. To prevent any tendency toward downward retraction of the towel upon retraction of the platform, longitudinally extending non-slip elements 40 may be secured to the top of plate 36, at laterally opposite sides of opening 35, these elements having upturned flanges 41 presenting relatively sharp or abrupt edges against the towel T, or the bottom towel of a stack thereof supported on plate 36. That is, the flanges 41 will depress the lowermost towel or towels sufficiently to provide against slippage back through opening 35. Suitable upright guide means 42. 42 may be provided on plate 36 v to confine stacked towels T thereon.

An electrically operated counter 48 may be provided,

as best shown in Figure 2, to be operated by each reciprocation of the folding blade 20, automatically to count the number of towels folded and stacked.

Automatic operation of the machine to fold and stack a succession of towels T will be best understood with reference to the schematic wiring diagram of Figure 7, in conjunction with Figures to 14, illustrating a series of operational steps, and by general reference to Figures ltoS.

To start the machine for a folding operation, the operator momentarily presses a starting switch S in a circuit C-1, through lines I and [-2 between power lines L and L1, and in which is included a micro-switch S-1,

7 normally held closed by the blade 16 in the inoperative position of the blade, best shown in Figures 3 and 6. Circuit C-l also includes a forwardly actuating side of the electrically-operated valve V, mounted on cylinder 22. By closing switch S in circuit C-l, the valve V is electrically operated to supply pressure air to the cylinder, thereby to operate the blade 16 forwardly for the 16 to its starting position, as best shown in Figures 1, 3

and 10. In case of emergency a switch 8-5 in a by-pass circuit C-S, in parallelism with circuit C-2 between the valve V and the other side of switch 8-2, is operable at any time to reverse the operation of valve V and return blade 16 to inoperative starting position.

Normally, when circuit C2 has been operated to return the blade 16 from the stacking end of the machine, and before the blade reaches said starting position, a projection 44 on the blade is engageable with a microswitch 8-3 in a circuit C3, including lines l4 and [-5 between lines L and L-l. Circuit S-3 actuates a valve V1 mounted on the vertical stacking cylinder 33, thereby to supply pressure air to cylinder 33 to elevate platform 27, as previously described. When the platform reaches its uppermost position, however, the cam 37 carried thereby engages micro-switch 84 contained in a circuit C-4, including lines l-6 and [-5, to close a reversing side of the valve V-1, and thereby to return the platform 27 to its lowermost position, best shown in Figure 3. After the last described operation of cylinder 33, through circuit C-4, the machine is in condition for the next succeeding folding and stacking operation.

In use or operation of the towel folding and stacking machine for successive cycles of operation thereof, a stack of unfolded towels T will be positioned on a table 45 at the rear side of the machine, the operator being positioned at the near side thereof as viewed in Figure 2. Thus, the operator, located at the side of the machine adjacent the starting switch S. as indicated in Figure 1, reaches over the relatively narrow machine and grasps opposite ends of an unfolded towel from table 45, at central points A-A on the towel so that with a continuing motion, the towel may be manually folded once upon itself (see Figure 8) and then quickly positioned in the machine flatwise in longitudinally extending relationship, partlv on the upper folding plate 14 and partly on the lower folding plate 15. This presents the central portion of the towel, indicated at 46 in Figure 3, directly inthe path or plane of forward movement of the blade 16 (see also Figure 10).

With the towel thus flatly positioned, and with further continuing arcuate movement of one hand, the operator momentarily depresses the starting button on switchS, which through valve V and circuit C-l operates the cylinder 22 for forward movement of the blade 16. Thus, the blade upon engaging the central portion 46 of the towel, as shown in Figure 11, draws the towel between the upper plate 14 and plate extension 15a and into full folded condition between the pairs of guides 23 and 24, and also into yielding engagement of the forward ends of the folded towel and the blade between the yieldingly separable bars 28 and 29, as shown in Figure 12.

At or near this point the blade 16 will have engaged and actuated the reversing switch S-2, and thereby through the reversing circuit 0-2 to operate the cylinder 22 for reverse movement of the blade 16. Figure 13 illustrates this condition, in which the blade 16 has been returned to starting position and a completely folded towel T is supported in readiness for a stacking operation.

In the meantime, during such reversing movement of the blade 16, the protrusion 44 thereon engages the stacking switch 8-3 thereby to operate valve V-l and elevate platform 27. Upward movement of the platform is effective to engage and lift the releasably supported towel T, and to urge the same upwardly through the rectangular opening 35 to a position above the plate 36, at which the cam 37 is engageable with the micro-switch 8-4 in circuit C-4 to reverse the operation of valve V-I and return the platform 27 to its initial lowered position (see Figure 3). The reverse movement of platform 27 may be purposely abrupt so that the edges of the towels supported on the platform tend to flex upwardly into position for full downward engagement with the supporting portions of the plate 36 and with the non-skid edges 41 of elements 40. In other words, the platform 27 movesfrom Figure 14 and back again, thereby to deposit the towel Ton the plate 36, or to add the towel to the bottom of a stack 47 of towels T previously built up on plate 36.

Thus, has been provided a simple, compact, and therefore economical to manufacture machine, which folds and stacks towels in quick succession without severely handling of the same to cause damage, and wherein uniform folding and stacking of the towels is accomplished.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for folding a fiat article, comprising a frame, a longitudinally reciprocable plate having straight side edges and a leading edge, laterally spaced guide channel means extending generally in a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating said plate longitudinally along said channel means, relatively fixed means for supporting the flat article to have opposite end portions thereof above and below said horizontal plane and to have an intermediate portion of the article substantially free and unobstructedly presented vertically through the horizontal plane for engagement by said leading edge of the forwardly moving plate, and thereby to fold the article upon itself, means for maintaining the article in folded condition as it is moved forwardly by said plate and terminating in laterally spaced holding means for removably retaining the folded article after reverse movement of said reciprocated member, an article-stacking platform spaced above said holding means and having an opening therethrough generally smaller than a said folded article, each said holding means including laterally spaced slat portions generally aligned in said horizontal plane supportingly to receive opposite marginal edge portions of the folded article, said holding means defining between the same a passage generally smaller than the folded article, a plunger vertically reciprocable upwardly through said passage and said opening to urge the folded article through the same and to apply the folded article to the bottom of a stack of like articles to be gravitationally supported on said platform.

2. A machine for folding a flat article, comprising a frame, a longitudinally reciprocable plate having straight side edges and a leading edge, laterally spaced guide channel means extending generally in a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating said plate longitudinally along said channel means, relatively fixed means for supporting the flat article to have opposite end portions thereof above and below said horizontal plane and to have an intermediate portion of the article substantially free and unobstructedly presented vertically through the horizontal plane for engagement by said leading edge of the forwardly moving plate, and thereby to fold the article upon itself, means for maintaining the article in folded condition as it is moved forwardly by said plate and terminating in laterally spaced holding means for removably retaining the folded article after reverse movement of said reciprocated member, an article-stacking platform spaced above said holding means and having an opening therethrough generally smaller than a said folded .article, each said holding means including laterally spaced .slat portions generally aligned in said horizontal plane ,supportingly to receive opposite marginal edge portions of the folded article, said holding means defining between the same a passage generally smaller than the folded article, a plunger vertically reciprocable upwardly through .said passage and said opening to urge the folded article through the same and to apply the folded article to the bottom of a stack of like articles to be gravitationally ,supported on said platform, said spaced portions including non-slip means frictionally engageable with the bottom of the stack to prevent downward retraction of the articles.

3. A machine for folding a flat article, comprising a frame, a longitudinally reciprocable plate having straight side edges and leading "edge, laterally" ,spa'ced'fg'uide channel means extending generally in a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating said plate longitudinally along said channel means, relatively fixed means for supportingthe flat article to have opposite end portions thereof above and below said horizontal plane and to have an intermediate portion of the article substantially free "and unobstructedly presented vertically through the horizontal plane for engagement by said leading edge of thefo'rwardly moving plate, and thereby to fold the article upon itself, means for maintaining the article in folded condition as it is moved forwardly by said plate and':terminating in laterally spaced holding means for removably retaining the'folded article afterreverse movement of said .reciprocated member, an article-stacking platform spaced above said holding means and having an opening therethrough generally smaller than a said folded article, each said holding means including laterally spaced slat portions generally aligned in said horizontal plane supportingly to receive opposite marginal edge portions of the folded article, said holding means defining between the same a passage generally smaller than the folded article, a plunger vertically reciprocable upwardly through said passage and said opening to urge the folded article through the same and to apply the folded article to the bottom of a stack of like articles to be gravitationally supported on said platform, said spaced portions including non-slip means frictionally engageable with the bottom of the stack to prevent downward retraction of the articles, said non-slip means including upwardly presented elongated edge portions over which the lowermost stacked articles are locally conformed under the weight of the articles.

4. A machine for folding a flat article, comprising a frame, a longitudinally reciprocable plate having straight side edges and a leading edge, laterally spaced guide channel means extending generally in a horizontal plane, means for reciprocating said plate longitudinally along said channel means, relatively fixed means for supporting the flat article to have opposite end portions thereof above and below said horizontal plane and to have an intermediate portion of the article substantially free and unobstructedly presented vertically through the horizontal plane for engagernent by said leading edge of the forwardly moving plate, and thereby to fold the article upon itself, means for maintaining the article in folded condition as it is moved forwardly by said plate and terminating in laterally spaced holding means for removably retaining the folded article after reverse movement of said reciprocated member, an article-stacking platform spaced above said holding means and having an opening therethrough generally smaller than a said folded article, each said holding means including laterally spaced slat portions generally aligned in said horizontal plane suppo-rtingly to receive opposite marginal edge portions of the folded article, said holding means defining between the same a passage generally smaller than the folded article, a plunger vertically reciprocable upwardly through said passage and said opening to urge the folded article through the same and to apply the folded article to the bottom of a stack of like articles to be gravitationally supported on said platform, means responsive to forward movement of said member to reverse movement of the same, and means responsive to said reverse movement of ably retaining the folded article after reverse movement .of said reciprocated member, an article-stacking platform spaced above said holding means and having an opening therethrough generally smaller than a said .folded article, each said holding means including laterally spaced slat portions generally aligned in said horizontal plane supportingly to receive opposite marginal edge portions of the folded article, said holding means defining between the same a passage generally smaller than the folded article, a plunger vertically 'reciprocable upwardly through said passage and said opening to urge the folded article through the same and to apply the folded article to the bottom of a stack of like articles to be gravitationally supported on said platform, means responsive to forward movement of said member to reverse movement of the same; means responsive to said reverse movement ofthe member to urge said plunger upwardly, and means responsive to said upward movement of the plunger to reverse the movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,176 Coudert Apr. 28, 1891 1,598,177 Thompson et a1. Aug. 31, 1926 2,025,246 Preston Dec. 24, 1935 2,595,346 Federwitz May 6, 1952 

